Inorganic Gemstones

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Gel Growth

This method is used in producing synthetic opal. There are three basic stages:

  1. Formation of suspension of uniform silica spheres of the desired size / colour by carefully controlled mixing of the chemical ingredients.
  2. Sedimentation of the spheres to produce an orderly packing.
  3. Consolidation, hardening and removal of excess water, probably by some combination of heat and pressure. The process requires about one year with most of this time being spent in stage 2.

Gemstones produced by this method are:

  • Synthetic Opal:
    • Synthetic opal has similar physical and optical properties as the natural counterparts. In some cases can be lower.
    • Under magnification synthetic opals exhibit characteristic inclusions:
      1. Lizard skin effect - a regular pattern of the silica gel.
      2. Columnar growth patterns, when viewed from the side.
    • Play of colour effects which are regular and in the same position when the stone is rotated.
    • Synthesized by P. Gilson, Russia etc.

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In Germany, the garland of ambers is hung around the necks of the infants, so that their teeth might come out without much trouble.

In Turkey, people fix a piece of amber in the hubble-bubble, dogged by an age old belief that the presence of the jewel would destroy all the germs and no disease would spread, even after many have dragged their puffs from it.

In Greece, people think if wine is poured into the cups made of amethyst, one does not get drunk after drinking that.

In Rome, a talisman having coral pieces is considered very auspicious to quell the bad spells of evil look. The Romans were in the habit of hanging chains made of ancient coral pieces from the cradle of the infants to protect them from evil effects.

In China, people wear rings studded with tiny conch or oyster shells as they believe it cures all aches such as stomach ache, worms and like.

In India, pendants made of silver and studded with pearls are hung from the necks of the children to save them from any bad effects.

Greeks still believe, if women wear blue sapphires then no sense of immorality would pollute their mind nor can any fear of the supernatural can trouble them.

The Pope Innocent III had circulated an order asking all the priests wear blue sapphire, so that morality can be strengthened.

It is said about turquoise, that when the stone changes its color into yellow, it actually signals bad times to the person who wears it.

It is believed that a turquoise gifted to a friend or a lover turns his or her life into one of happiness and good luck.

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